Palm Kernel Cake as a Potential Ingredient in Muscovy Ducks Diet

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the feeding effect of three concentration levels of 0, 15 and 35% palm kernel cake (PKC) on productive performance of Muscovy ducks during growing period. A total of 72 males and 72 females two week-old ducklings were randomly assigned to one of three experimental diets: corn-soybean meal basal diet (control); basal diet containing 15% PKC (PKC15); and basal diet containing 35% PKC (PKC35). Following five weeks of growing phase with experimental diet, no significant differences were observed in respect to body weight and weight gain among treatments. However, feed intake and feed to gain ratio was significantly higher in birds fed 35% PKC than those in other treatment groups. Male ducks had significantly superior weight gain and feed to gain ratio. This was mainly due to their higher feed intake level and not attributed to nutrient digestibility coefficients. Inclusion of 35% PKC decreased (P<0.05) the dry matter, energy and crude protein digestibility compared to 15% and control group. This reduction was mainly influenced by the shorter digesta passage time in 35% PKC fed birds (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the control and 15% PKC birds as for all the investigated parameters. Therefore, it is suggested that PKC may be incorporated in Muscovy duck diet at 15% without any adverse effect on the overall performance and nutrients digestibility.